If you’re considering a move to a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) like Springmoor, you’ll want to gather information about the value of the medical care you’d receive compared to remaining in your home. None of us can foresee when illness or injury will occur, and we all know healthcare costs are often unpredictable. One of the primary advantages of being a resident of a CCRC is that you are guaranteed to receive care for life, regardless of what the future holds.
Charlotte Jenkins, BSN, RN, CHPN (Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse) is our Outpatient Services Director. She provides this fictional example to illustrate how an older couple might experience a medical issue and subsequent care if they live at home versus being residents of Springmoor:
-The husband has knee replacement surgery and needs rehab. If the couple lives in their own home, Medicare will pay for this rehab, but care is provided where a bed is available. This bed may not be close to the couple’s residence. If the spouse isn’t still driving, it may be difficult to visit.
-If this same couple lives in Independent Living at Springmoor, the husband can use the skilled nursing services at our Stewart Health Center for rehab and stay on the same campus where his actual residence is located. This proximity tends to facilitate successful rehab, and his wife can easily visit. When rehab is complete, the husband then rejoins his wife at their Springmoor apartment, villa, or single-family home.
Charlotte explains further that Medicare will only continue to pay for a rehab bed in a skilled nursing facility if a patient continues to show improvement. “If you don’t show improvement,” she says, “you then have a choice to either be sent back home—maybe before you’re ready—or transition to a Medicare bed. If the facility where you’re doing rehab doesn’t have a Medicare bed available, you have to move to a different facility. There’s just a lot more uncertainty if you’re not in a CCRC, and this is more likely to cause stress, anxiety, and even depression.”
She continues, “Because Springmoor is a CCRC and doesn’t accept Medicare, your care team has the freedom to make decisions in your best possible interests. A CCRC provides more knowable factors when it comes to healthcare. When Medicare covers your medical costs, you don’t have control over which facility provides you with care and whether you’re close to your family.”
In past nursing positions, Charlotte observed many older adults who were aging poorly. Often they became isolated in their own homes because it was too challenging to venture out. She adds, “They were more likely to eat convenience foods rather than cooking well-balanced meals that support good health.”
“People also tend to draw back from mental stimulation when they stay in their own homes,” Charlotte says. “They may lack significant opportunities to interact with their peers and other family members. Other health-related issues like lung disease and cognitive decline may then worsen.”
At Springmoor, Charlotte works hand in hand with our Independent Living social worker to support independent residents and their families and help them address whatever health challenges may arise. She supervises the nursing staff for our Supportive Living residents and provides clinical services to residents who live in Independent and Supportive Living.
Charlotte also supervises our onsite medical clinic, including managing the nursing staff. Springmoor residents have the choice of receiving acute and primary care at our clinic or keeping their own doctor. The quality of care is outstanding, and residents often comment on the convenience of being able to walk to their routine appointments.
“What I enjoy the most about my position at Springmoor is that I have the opportunity to work one on one with residents,” Charlotte says. “I talk with them and provide all kinds of health education to help them and their adult children navigate whatever issues they’re dealing with. Springmoor residents and their families tend to be proactive about planning for the future.”
“People have a life before they age,” she continues. “Whether they were an airline pilot, a kindergarten teacher, or a homemaker, a resident’s past gives me and the other caregivers at Springmoor a lot of insight into who they are now. We have enormously interesting residents here with amazing histories that are just fun to learn about.”
Charlotte emphasizes that the goal is to keep each resident as healthy and independent as possible for as long as possible. “Springmoor residents often hit all the marks of what good aging looks like,” she says. “The structure and support of the community facilitate being mentally and physically active. Residents have easy access to good, nutritious food and a wide variety of events and activities. It’s not surprising we have many residents in their upper 80s all the way to age 105.”
A bonus of life at Springmoor is that the insurance specialists on our staff help you navigate your healthcare insurance and get the most out of your policies. We also provide medical transportation as needed.
The Springmoor Endowment Fund helps ensure guaranteed residency for life for every resident. The Endowment Fund has grown tremendously over the years, based in part on earnings; the principal remains untouched. A committee of the Springmoor Residents Association focuses on growing the Endowment. They conduct an annual fundraising campaign that includes events like a yard sale.
As residents’ needs change over time, there are many support services in place such as the Springmoor Home Care Agency. Staff provides in-home assistance for a small hourly fee. Assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care are also available should the need arise. If you have long-term care insurance, this will help cover a portion of these costs.
You may be concerned about the possibility of rising fees. “Springmoor’s increase in monthly fees generally tracks the increase in the overall cost of living,” says Beth Holden, Springmoor’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “Over the past decade, the average annual increase has been 3.94%. You can visit the website of the North Carolina Department of Insurance for our Disclosure Statement and more detailed information.”
Give us a call to schedule your visit today!
Springmoor is a nonprofit CCRC offering seniors a variety of residence options that range from apartments to larger villas and homes. We’re proud to have celebrated our 40th anniversary in 2024. As of this writing (December 2024), almost 40 second-generation residents call Springmoor home. Each of these residents has a parent or other older relative who previously lived at Springmoor.
If you’re looking for an active senior living community in Raleigh, call us at 919-848-7080 with your questions. You can also click here to fill out a short online form to receive a free information packet or schedule an appointment for a personalized tour. Our friendly team looks forward to meeting you soon!
Springmoor currently has approximately 50 employees who have served residents for 20 years or more. Are you interested in becoming part of Springmoor’s exceptional team? Visit the careers page of our website to view our current job openings and apply online.
